by C. J. Box
Part of Joe Pickett, book 19
First published 2019
Joe Pickett has his badge back, but his return to duty brings immediate trouble. A drone is slaughtering wildlife across his Wyoming territory. The machine belongs to a wealthy, secretive man whose grandson dates Joe's daughter Lucy. When Joe confronts the drone operator, federal agents order him to back off. Their interference only deepens his suspicions. Joe learns the man lives under witness protection, hiding dangerous secrets about powerful enemies. Four assassins from the Sinaloa cartel arrive in Wyoming, hunting the protected witness. Joe's investigation threatens to expose the man's location. Partnered with a female game warden, Joe must stop the killers before they complete their mission. The hunters become the hunted as the cartel targets Joe, Lucy, and her boyfriend.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Wyoming
371 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons
Content warnings: violence